Learn How to Bicycle with Traffic

Monday

Feb 18, 2013 at 7:51 AM

The next session of Bicycling with Traffic will begin Sunday, March 10 2:00 - 5:00 pm at the Adair County Health Dept. Bring your bicycle and helmet and dress appropriately for the weather. Registration is required; the $10 fee is optional.

Rachel Ruhlen

Would you like to bike to work and use your bike to run errands? It’s a great way to turn a chore into a fun bike ride, to get a little exercise and fresh air. But the #1 obstacle people cite for not biking more is fear of traffic. That can turn the prospect of a fun little bike ride into an intimidating nightmare.

It doesn’t have to be that way, and the League of American Bicyclists has developed the Smart Cycling program to teach you how the best practices for bicycling with traffic. I took Traffic Skills 101 (then Road I) in March 2007 and gained the ability to bike on any road with confidence in my safety.

Bicyclists wrestle with uncertainty about their place on the road. Motorists scream, “Get off the road!” and pedestrians yell, “Get off the sidewalk!” Walkers are on the left and motorists on the right and bicyclists randomly join one side or the other. Intuition tells us to stay as far away from the cars as possible—and we obey by just staying home. It’s too confusing!

Learn how to bicycle with traffic over spring break in a 9-hour class taught in 3 parts with classroom instruction, parking lot drills, and practical road experience. The course is appropriate for novice and experienced bicyclists ages 14-99. We teach cyclists how to use a bicycle with confidence and competence for pleasure, utility, and sport in various highway, climate, terrain, and traffic conditions

We will teach you your place on the road and how to take it safely and confidently. You will learn how to choose a route, when and how to take the lane, and how to handle busier streets. You will learn what laws apply to bicyclists and how to protect yourself from motorists who may or may not follow traffic laws themselves. Most importantly, you will learn which threats are real and which are imaginary.

With your new skills and confidence, bicycling on the streets of Kirksville will be a breeze.

The next session of Bicycling with Traffic will meet Sunday, March 10 2:00 - 5:00 pm, Wednesday, March 13 5:00 - 8:00 pm, and Sunday, March 17 2:00 - 5:00 pm at the Adair County Health Dept, 1001 S Jamison. Bring your bicycle and helmet and dress appropriately for the weather. Registration is required; the $10 fee is optional.

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